The Carolina Panthers have released longtime defensive end Charles Johnson, a move that will save the team $11 million under the 2016 NFL salary cap.

Johnson started nine games for Carolina in 2015 but struggled with hamstring injuries and missed seven games while on short-term injured reserve.

He had one sack in the regular season and registered three sacks in three postseason games.

Johnson, who spent all nine seasons with the Panthers, had 63.5 sacks - second-most in franchise history. He recorded at least nine sacks in four consecutive years from 2010-13 and had a career-high 12.5 in 2012.

Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman says Johnson "was an impact player for the Carolina Panthers for a long time, both on and off the field."